In previous years, the “Dinner & A Movie at Leo Carrillo Ranch” was the big annual fundraiser supporting arts and education. However, this event was split this year, turning the movie night into the Leo Carrillo Ranch Film Festival!

Guests were encouraged to bring: blankets, low-back chairs, warm clothes, and a flashlight. They enjoyed an evening of nostalgic entertainment under the stars hosted by the Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department. Over the last three Friday nights, they showed rare historical films from the Golden Age of Hollywood featuring Leo Carrillo and movies that Leo would love.

A Meurer Image Photography Photo from the 2017 Dinner & A Movie Fundraiser night.

Personal Touch Dining offered snacks at a concession stand, a fun change of pace from the regular wedding menu they serve! There were desserts, popcorn, hot dogs, and other fun snacks you’d see at a movie theatre for sale.

While the City of Carlsbad also hosts larger public Family Movie Nights, these Film Festival events require advance online reservations. The tickets sold out fast! If you’re a local in the area, keep a sharp eye on the City Of Carlsbad’s event calendar for more fun events like this in the future!

A Meurer Image Photography Photo from the 2017 Dinner & A Movie Fundraiser night.

Are you interested in the Family Movie Night coming up on Saturday, Sept. 10? 

The City of Carlsbad says, “Bring family & friends, a blanket, and a low-back chair to Stagecoach Community Park for a night of fun activities and a movie presentation on the big screen under the stars.” This is an open invite event; no tickets need to be purchased to attend!

“Enjoy a movie-themed FunZone with bounce houses, obstacle races, crafts, games, and activities from 5 – 7 p.m. Wristbands for the FunZone can be purchased for $5 at the Event. Our feature presentation UP (rated PG) will start at dusk.”

Food and beverage sales are available between 5 and 7 p.m.

Enjoy Pizza, nachos, hot dogs, ice cream, & popcorn, or bring your dinner from home!

*** Event may modify or cancel due to inclement weather.***

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022
5 p.m., the Movie starts at dusk
Stagecoach Community Park
3420 Camino de Los Coches

As we discussed, dessert bars are fantastic for groups who want a little something sweet on the go. However, a dessert action station is raising your dessert bar to the next level! These stations focus on one type of dessert and offer countless topping combinations to delight you and your guests. From Icecream Sundaes with all the toppings to roasting your own S’more, these stations elevate the feel of your event and provide the perfect cherry on top of your perfect night.

S’mores

Graham Crackers, Marshmallows, Chocolate Bars, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Guests of all ages love this station. No matter the time of year, everybody is ready for a S’more! You, too, can delight in roasting your mallow to perfection and then deciding between a peanut butter cup or a hearty chunk of milk chocolate to finish off your summery sandwich.

Sundaes

Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream Topped with Your Choice of Chocolate Sauce, Strawberry Sauce, Nuts, Candies, Sprinkles, Whipped Cream, and Cherries.

Icecream is a rising trend for couples who’d rather go the creamy dessert route over the cakey ones. At this station, all the classic toppings from nuts to strawberry syrup are included! See something missing? It’s no trouble to customize your toppings selection to fit your unique tastes.

Pie A la Mode

Sweet & Tart Cherry and Apple Oozing with Cinnamon, Served with Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream.

The Pie A la Mode station is definitely a crowd favorite during our Autumn weddings and festivities. Served with a heaping scoop of ice cream on top, this station brings about a heartwarming feeling that guests go crazy for!

Churros

Crispy Churros Cooked on Site Dipped in Cinnamon & Sugar, Served with Chocolate Sauce, Carmel Sauce, and Whip Cream.

By far our most popular station here at the Ranch, the Churro Station is the perfect dessert to complement our Spanish heritage and style. Fried on-site, these crispy treats taste best topped with caramel, chocolate, and a healthy heap of whipped cream!

There is a whole world of dessert options beyond traditional tiered cakes to explore for your wedding. Dessert bars in particular offer long-term snacking compared to active stations like the S’mores, Ice Cream Sundae, and Churro stations that we provide. These dessert bars are perfect for couples who want to keep their guests on the dance floor and want to appeal to the largest crowd. Check out these mouth-watering options below for your own sweet, sweet inspiration!

Gipe Photography

Dessert trends have been pointing away from classic tiered cakes, with their overly sweet or inaccurate amount issues, and towards experimenting with smaller portions or varieties of treats as options for guests.

Anastasya Photography

Donuts, in particular over the last few years, have rocketed off the charts in popularity!

Honestly, who can resist fried dough covered in sugar?

Gipe Photography

Cupcakes offer options for your guests’ special dietary needs as well!

Instead of ordering one layer of cake hoping and worrying about anybody’s allergy restrictions, ordering cupcakes allow for specific numbers of different flavors to please everyone.

Anastasya Photography

Your favorite treats to go–such as cookies, brownies, lemon bars, and any other sugary concoction are perfect for guests to snag from a dessert station on their way to the dance floor.

Krissel Rivas Photography

Snag your favorite candies in bulk to share with your guests. They can make little to-go bags of their favorites to take home. A healthier version that we’ve seen of this dessert station option is a trail mix station!

Acqua Photo

Choose your favorite treats and go wild! We love seeing couples get creative with their choices.

Gipe Photography

Just ask our coordinators for ideas on how best to display all of your treats!

Leo Carrillo Ranch Coordinated, Managed, and Catered by Personal Touch Dining.

A Moving Style Event (AKA a Progressive Event Reception or Cocktail-Style Event Reception) utilizes the idea of a continuous cocktail hour but with more substantial food options. It’s an extraordinarily efficient and crowd-pleasing way to feed and entertain larger guest counts no matter the venue’s size.

Cedar Plank Salmon on Pesto Risotto

Moving Style Receptions are essentially more elaborate cocktail-style events, and because of all the movement and mingling, this style of reception is often more relaxed.

It’s designed to promote mingling and is excellent for a room full of talkers, dancers, and movers.

Your guests can eat and drink more of what they like, and when your guests are happy, your dance floor is full.

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

This laid-back yet elegant reception style is perfect for couples looking to entertain their guests with something away from traditional formal dining.

Often filled with lawn games, photo booths, and lots of dancing, cocktail receptions give guests the freedom to enjoy themselves without seating charts and strict timelines getting in the way.

Kahlua Pulled Pork Slider with Waffle Fries

Seating

Before planning a cocktail reception, it is essential to consider your guest demographic (older guests generally need more accommodation).

After deciding to go with this kind of reception, we highly suggest informing guests in the invitation that the dinner will be cocktail-style so everyone can wear their best dancing shoes, (and leave the uncomfortable ones at home.)

Some wedding professionals will argue that progressive parties are most successful when a bride and groom provide stable seating for 50% of their guests with supplemental furniture. Others will advise providing more accommodation than your guest list demands. We say, reserve a few tables for those you know will need a seat (lookin’ at you Aunt Esther), and have the young folk perch on some vignette-style decor:

• Smaller tables that place 4 or 6 encourage movement and keep large groups from posting up all night.
• Soft lounge seating in small groupings throughout the space softens the look and lends to that cozy club vibe.
• Ottomans are your best friends, and you can never have too many pillows or throw blankets!
• Add in some scattered cocktail tables.
• Be sure to place some lounges around the dance floor as well to bring guests into the party.
• If you space these elements throughout the room, you’ll draw guests to the various areas while also providing great conversation pockets.

Mac n Cheese Bar

This reception style means guests can choose their food at their leisure but aren’t required to wait in a single line, unlike the buffet style.

They can bounce freely between multiple food stations, reducing wait times.

It also creates a lively vibe, as guests are always moving to and from stations, mingling with others along the way.

Street Tacos

Foodservice is what ultimately sets a progressive reception apart from the standard wedding. Nobody wants to attend a 5-hour cocktail party with minimal appetizers, so the food’s function is imperative.

These receptions are categorized by flowing food and station-style service, and it’s all about presentation.

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich with homemade Kettle Chips

Stations differ from buffets in that they are smaller and feature specific food items at each, and our events specifically offer at least three small plate stations off of our menus. Essentially equating to three tiny buffets for your guests to visit!

Mashed Potato Bar

Start the evening with passed hors-d’oeuvres and light bites, moving to small action stations – we’ve kept in mind to serve items that are easy to consume, limiting fork use, and always dance floor approved!

If they’re hungry, they will come to the food, so there’s no need to announce food service has begun. The guests will follow the lead of the bride and groom and the wedding party.

Braised Short Ribs on Goat Cheese Whipped Potatoes

Be sure there is food available throughout the night!

A smooth transition from light to heavy, then sweet, is critical for a perfect night, but don’t forget the late-night snack! (Nobody thinks to provide sliders and fries or milk and cookies when the late-night munchies strike. You could be the first!)

Some of our most popular station combinations are the Spinach, and Artichoke Grilled Cheese served with a Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque, Braised Beef Short Ribs in a Demi-Glace with Goat Cheese Whipped Potatoes, and our famous Mac n’ Cheese Bar that comes with a variety of toppings sure to please guests of all ages.

Not only will this keep your guests full, but it will also help define the evening as you go and offer tasty surprises throughout the night!

Sundried Tomato and Artichoke Heart Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Creamy Tomato Bisque

Key Points to remember:

This foodservice arrangement offers all the pros of a buffet without the downside of a long wait in line!

Without a venue full of tables, you can invite more guests; for a younger crowd, more movement and less sitting during the reception can create a fun atmosphere.

Your guests are going to remember being full of fantastic food, drinks, and dancing the night away; what more could a guest want?

Chicken and Waffles

Contact us for more information and ask our coordinators for the full menus to explore for yourself!

Thanks, True Photography, for all these incredible food photos!

Expected Duties, Planning, and Etiquette 

Vee Taylor Photography

Whether you have tons of experience being part of a bridal party, or it’s your first time, we’ve collected all you need to know about the roles and duties that they come with. In general, the wedding party–meaning the people the happy couple chooses to stand up with them during the ceremony–is responsible for helping the happy couple plan, stay sane, and cheering them on during the big day. The wedding party’s most commonly known duties include taking photos with the bride and groom on the wedding day, planning special pre-wedding events like the bridal shower or bachelor/bachelorette parties, and helping the bride and groom get ready before the ceremony. They also usually have a special seat at the reception. We understand that every wedding is different depending on how involved family members are or how large the bridal party ends up being. So as a party member, always reach out to the happy couple to offer help!

General Bridal Party (Bridesmaids/Groomsmen/Maid of Honor/Best Man)

Each couple will customize their bridal party to fit their ideal group’s idea for their big day. It’s up to the party members to be available to help make the magic happen as smoothly as possible and offer their services in any way they can. Most couples tend to worry about burdening their friends with the planning details, but if you feel comfortable offering an extra hand anywhere, they’ll be forever grateful. Below, we’ve gathered the general responsibilities expected of all members of the bridal party.

David Manning Photographer

• Offer to help with wedding planning and pre-wedding events.
• Be knowledgeable of, spread the news about, where the happy couple is registered, when and where the ceremony will be taking place, and where to send gifts.
• Help choose wedding day attire and accessories if asked.
• Help the Maid of Honor and Best Man with details to plan the bachelor/bachelorette party.
• Pay for own wedding attire and travel expenses.
• Attend any pre-wedding events. (Depending on if they’re co-ed or not.)
• Purchase wedding day attire and accessories promptly as requested by the couple.
• Attend the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
• Offer the happy couple and their families help and emotional support on the day of the wedding.
• At the reception, help make sure everything goes according to plan.
• Being social and helping make guests feel welcome.
• Getting the party started on the dance floor.
• Decorating the getaway vehicle to help give the happy couple a proper send-off.
• Attend the send-off or post-wedding brunch.

Maid of Honor

Being chosen as Maid of Honor (MOH) is an incredible honor. Essentially, the bride is asking you to be her go-to for anything she might need, from engagement to the final send-off. Not only are you head of the bridesmaids, but duties also include planning the bachelorette party and being the bride’s right-hand woman on the big day. The bride usually gives this role to a sister or her closest female friend. Before accepting this honor, check out the duties listed below that rest on your capable shoulders. (Anything we’ve italicized is uncommon, although considerate, duties to offer to the bride but can vary depending on the situation.)

Singler Photography

• Manage the bridesmaids and mediate any conflicts that may arise.
• Maintain a level head throughout the bride’s wedding planning.
• Oversee and keep track of pre-wedding expenses for the bridesmaids.
• Help the bride shop for her wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses.
• Coordinate any necessary bridesmaid fitting and ensure bridesmaids are getting their dresses and accessories on time.
• Offer to address wedding invitations and assist with miscellaneous wedding projects. 
• Organize and host or co-host the bridal shower.
• Organize and plan the bachelorette party.
• Offer to help the bride pack for the honeymoon.
• Make sure the bridesmaids all arrive at the wedding on time with everything they need.
• Assist with the bride’s appearance during the ceremony and rehearsal. (Keep an eye out for smudged makeup or stray hairs and help her with her veil, dress, and arranging her train during the ceremony.)
• Hold the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony.
• Hold the groom’s ring during the ceremony if asked.
• Sign the marriage certificate.
• Give a toast to the happy couple at the reception.
• Make sure the bride eats and drinks water.
• Help transport wedding gifts from the reception.

Best Man

According to history, the best man was a groom’s kidnapping accomplice and willing to fight to the death for the bride’s honor. These days, kidnapping is thankfully off the agenda, but the best man still has many important responsibilities. Serving as the groom’s right-hand man throughout the wedding planning process hasn’t changed. He’s also in charge of wrangling the other groomsmen during wedding planning and on the big day. This role is usually filled by the groom’s brother or closest male friend. Below, we’ve listed some of the other duties that come with this title. (The duties in italics are optional and vary depending on the happy couple and their family’s traditions.)

Marissa McBride Photography

• Help manage groomsmen and mediate any conflicts that may arise.
• Oversee and keep track of pre-wedding expenses for the groomsmen.
• Coordinate suit or tuxedo fittings for all groomsmen and ushers.
• Organize and plan the bachelor party.
• Offer support to the groom and groomsmen during wedding planning and on the day of the wedding.
• Help orchestrate toasts at the rehearsal dinner.
• Make sure all groomsmen and ushers arrive at the wedding on time and with everything they need.
• Hold the bride’s wedding ring during the ceremony if asked.
• Sign the marriage certificate.
• Give a toast to the happy couple at the reception.
• Coordinate with the happy couple’s parents to ensure all service providers have received the necessary payment and tips.

Other Party Members

Parents of the Groom: The Engagement Party and Rehearsal Dinner are usually the groom’s parents’ responsibility in Western Cultures. Depending on the cultural traditions of each family, this may change.

Parents of the Bride: As mentioned above, in typical western culture, the bride’s parents are the designated Wedding Reception Hosts. Recently, we’ve seen more happy couples become their own reception hosts, so this tradition of “who pays for the wedding” can be adjusted accordingly.

Vee Taylor Photography

Junior Bridesmaids and Groomsmen: Typically, junior bridal party members are do not attend the Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, but for young adults between 9-15, including them in the bridal party is a great way to get them involved in the big day. They usually stand up with the happy couple during the ceremony and are included in any engagement parties or co-ed bridal showers.

Ring Bearers and Flower Girls: This role is usually reserved for children between 4-8 years old, and responsibility for attendance and attire goes to their parents. It’s recommended to include them in the wedding rehearsal to get a little practice for the big day. Flower Girls traditionally walk right before the bride to scatter petals while ring bearers can be fit into the processional wherever the happy couple sees fit.

Final Notes

The responsibilities we’ve listed usually come pretty naturally since you’re there to support your friends in their love story. So enjoy the day, and always remember to offer your help wherever you can! Being part of this big day is a ton of fun! Planning a wedding isn’t for the faint of heart, and your friends will be forever thankful that you’re there to lean on.

Welcome Boxes

Photography- True Photography Welcome Box- Personal Touch Dining

There are so many welcome gifts that have become a new standard for couples to give–and generally have available– to their guests now. It seems like it’d be odd not to offer cute personalized hand sanitizers and optional masks, but what about programs and take-home favors too? Instead of assuming your guests have space to fit all these fun trinkets into their pockets throughout the event, a box filled with everything they could need from the start is the perfect solution. Guest-centered details like this are blowing up in popularity since so many weddings have been downsized. As a wedding favor that they can actually use at the wedding, these boxes act as a thoughtful way to make your loved ones feel that they’re cared for on your wedding day.

Environmentally Mindful

Photography- Meurer Image

An admittedly late, amped-up appreciation for sustainability was said to be a top trend in design and planning for 2020 until all gatherings were put on pause. It was a happy accident that many events in 2020 did end up being inherently more sustainable given their smaller scale. They were planned in backyards, amid gardens, and on terraces with help from neighborhood vendors and were more locally-sourced than ever before! 2021 weddings promise to continue that trend, with much of the product—from food to beverage or floral—being sourced as locally as possible, limiting carbon emissions in transportation and supporting small, artisan businesses. Getting married somewhere is now a commitment to supporting a local economy that undoubtedly felt the effects of 2020.

Uniquely Intentioned Tablescapes

Photography- Alexandria Monette Florist- Wildflower Studios

Couples are centering their event decisions around what is most important to them. We’re seeing more planned “private moments” on timelines and sentimental details taking the forefront in decor. Tablescapes are flourishing with custom linens, handwritten thank you notes, and elaborate food service displays. In theory, since there are fewer guests per table, there is more space to build your dream tablescape design. (We can all thank Pinterest for making us acutely aware of gorgeous stylized shoots.) Luxury linens, layered china, candles, and multicolored crystal glassware are sure to be prominent this Spring season and through the Fall.

Dream Livingroom Lounges

Photography- Joe & Kathrina Photography Florist- Beautiful Savage Flowers Furniture- Sundrop Vintage Rentals

Give us cozy throws, plush pillows, and couches! The outdoor lounge lives on in 2021, but the furnishings are leaning towards a cozy farmhouse rendition of a living room. Guests will most likely find themselves sitting for longer, and the Spring can be known for its chilly moments as it shakes off Winter. Plucked straight from Magnolia to an airy field, create a lounge layout for comfort and warmth.

Color Me Bold!

Photography- Top Shelf Photo Florist- Studio Fleurish

Across the board, Florists have been seeing brilliant pops of yellow become the dominating color in their clients’ requests. Yellow has so many wonderful tones in nature that there are shades to suit every season. Last fall, we saw genius mixes of dried bracken, autumnal-tinged foliage, and honey-yellow roses to achieve a classic “Fall” look. Now, the Spring and Summer seasons are riding the yellow tidal wave. Get ready for buttery yellows, ochers, and bold mustard tones in layers everywhere, including the linens, glassware, and china! Not only does it look good as flowers, but the intensity of mustard works so well with rich fabrics like velvet and satin. Events this year are inherently going to mean so much more than they used to, and with yellow being such a vibrant, joyful color, it seems fitting to help bring us back from such a dark year.

Floral Focus

Photography- Rachael Consaul Photography Florist- Posies Flowers

A 2021 floral trend to arise is a pure focus on voluminous floral arrangements that are equal parts breathtaking and sentimental. Couples are unanimously making design decisions based on this key importance. Instead of vaguely describing their dream florals in colors or choosing whatever is “in” at the moment, couples are insisting on a sense of personal touch. When you notice intricacies in the season’s details, the event’s motif flows effortlessly. The flavors and colors harmonize naturally, and the difference between this and something fabricated is obvious. The flowers chosen can create magic between the food you pick and the music played, collecting everything together beautifully. Statement florals are no longer impressive and impossible simply for the sake of impossibility. If the floral design is meant to reflect the couples, it becomes less orchestrated and more sensible, but no less eye-catching.

Something Spontaneous

Photography- Top Shelf Photo Lithuanian “Sakotas Cake”

As we’ve mentioned, 2021 wedding trends—reflective of more intimate affairs—are all about going deep into the details and accompanying experiences. Why not include an element of surprise or spontaneity? Whether it’s having a mentalist perform or asking a celeb to sing your first dance song over Zoom, the options to delight your guests are endless. Reducing a sauce will bring out its strongest flavors, and having smaller weddings allows couples to focus on smaller details. Adding in dashes of spice in the form of the couple’s unique personalities might be the right amount of quirky to be seen as spontaneous. Guests eat that up. We’ve seen caricature artists, palm and tarot readers, even custom haiku writers at our events, but waiting in the wings, even wilder interactive experiences await!

Looking for even more Spring 2021 Wedding Trends?

Check out our Instagram and Pinterest!

Thankfully, we’re here to help!

These are some of our favorite examples of tabletop centerpiece ideas over the last couple of years to help narrow your search and provide a bit more to visualize.

Photography- Vacay Photo Florist- Haystack Floral

From the moment our guests step down from the ceremony to the reception, the first thing that captures their eyes are the exquisite tables displaying none other than the choice of centerpieces that our clients envisioned for their big day.

Photography- Alexandria Monette Florist- Wildflower Studios

No matter how many events we’ve had, we are always surprised at the latest form of ingenuity and creativity! The outcome of the centerpieces leaves us absolutely speechless with how breathtaking it all comes together.

Photography- Amy Lynn Photography Florist- KO Floral Designs

These wood Farm Tables fit the tone that carries over from our historic Hacienda. They also allow more space for guests and elaborate, exciting centerpieces!

Photography- Mirelle Carmichael Florist-  Foxtail Floral 

Traditional round tables instead of Farm Tables are still a blank canvas for the creative spirit! These are packed full of potential and provide a more intimate seating arrangement for guests to have easy conversations with the rest of their table. They also allow for smaller centerpieces, but that doesn’t mean they have to be less fun or exquisite.

Photography- Marisa McBride Photography  Florist- The Dainty Lion

There are endless combinations of glassware, silverware, chargers, and plates that we can access for your tables to look perfect on the big day. All it takes is some imagination!

Photography- Singler Photography Florist- Rebecca Eichten Floral Art and Design

Looking for More Inspiration?

Check out our Instagram and Pinterest for tons of incredible table centerpieces!

Big thanks to all these fabulous couples for daring to go all out and to the photographers for these inspirational pics!

We’re so glad Paulina had a stress- free time planning her wedding with us! We take care to ensure that our all-inclusive packages make your wedding worries disappear. Minor details are our specialty, so we’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing. Our Special Events Team are pros at coordinating and helping you design your dream wedding.

Thanks, Paulina, for taking the time to review us!

The “Christmas Light”

• 1/2 oz Cointreau (or another orange liqueur)
• 100% Cranberry Juice (None of that “juice cocktail” nonsense.)
• Champagne

The “Mrs. Claus-mo”

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz Cointreau (or another orange liqueur)
• 1 oz 100% Cranberry Juice

Christmas Margarita

• 2 oz 100% Cranberry Juice
• 1 oz Tequila (use Blanco or Reposado)
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 1/2 oz Fresh lime juice

We hope you enjoy these four-ingredient holiday craft cocktails!

All we ask is that you enjoy these drinks responsibly and remember to share the love, not our germs, this holiday season!

Breanna + Daniel

True Photography has been an unquestionably loyal and favorite photographer here at the Ranch for years.

Not only are their team of talented photographers a delight to work with, but the professional standard at which they hold themselves and the pictures they produce are simply amazing. With such a broad spectrum of specialties, we’ve been as dazzled by their exquisite detail-shots as their candid and action ones!

We love recommending them to our clients because we know the client will be thrilled with the experience and the product every single time.

Few other photographers have such a skilled eye for unique angles and priceless opportune moments. Out of the hundreds of pictures they’ve shared with us, it is nearly impossible to choose our favorites.

Amanda + Emily

We find they’re perfect for clients who want unusual angles, priceless candid shots, and unparalleled service.

Their work is so unique in its vibrancy and evident zeal for life! They’ve helped our clients achieve one-of-a-kind photos, unique to their personalities, to cherish for the rest of their lives. We trust them to photograph our biggest projects here on the Ranch! Last year they helped us promote our refurbished Stables and the pictures were incredible.

We can’t thank True Photography enough for all their hard work and unequivocal reliability throughout our time working with each other. We’re looking forward to working with them again soon!

Contact them today!

True Photography.com

Check out some incredible pics from True Photography’s events here at our Ranch!

Claudia + Reggie | True Photography | Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings

Emily + Rose | True Photography | San Diego Wedding and Event Venues

Amanda + Emily | True Photography

Breanna + Daniel | True Photography